Old-law Base and Year of Coverage

Updated October 17, 2007

Automatic Increases

Contribution & Benefit Base

Old-law Base

For 1951-78, the amount of Social Security covered earnings needed for a year of coverage is 25 percent of the contribution and benefit base. For years after 1978, the amounts are 25 percent of what the contribution and benefit base would have been if the 1977 Social Security Amendments had not been enacted (hence the name "old-law" base). For special-minimum benefit purposes only, the applicable percentage is 15 percent for years after 1990. Please see the following tables.

**Old-Law Contribution and Benefit Base, and Minimum Covered Earnings Needed to Qualify for a Year of Coverage**
Year	"Old-law" contribution and benefit base	Special minimum primary insurance amount	Benefit computations applicable to certain individuals with pensions from noncovered employment
		Earnings needed to qualify for a year of coverage for purposes of—
1991	$39,600	$5,940	$9,900
1992	41,400	6,210	10,350
1993	42,900	6,435	10,725
1994	45,000	6,750	11,250
1995	45,300	6,795	11,325
1996	46,500	6,975	11,625
1997	48,600	7,290	12,150
1998	50,700	7,605	12,675
1999	53,700	8,055	13,425
2000	56,700	8,505	14,175
2001	59,700	8,955	14,925
2002	63,000	9,450	15,750
2003	64,500	9,675	16,125
2004	65,100	9,765	16,275
2005	66,900	10,035	16,725
2006	69,900	10,485	17,475
2007	72,600	10,890	18,150
2008	75,900	11,385	18,975

Contribution and benefit base for 1951-78, old-law base for 1979-90, and the corresponding amount of earnings needed for a year of coverage

Year	Contribution & benefit base	Amount of earnings
1951	$3,600	$900
1952	3,600	900
1953	3,600	900
1954	3,600	900
1955	4,200	1,050
1956	4,200	1,050
1957	4,200	1,050
1958	4,200	1,050
1959	4,800	1,200
1960	4,800	1,200
1961	4,800	1,200
1962	4,800	1,200
1963	4,800	1,200
1964	4,800	1,200

Year	Contribution & benefit base	Amount of earnings
1965	$4,800	$1,200
1966	6,600	1,650
1967	6,600	1,650
1968	7,800	1,950
1969	7,800	1,950
1970	7,800	1,950
1971	7,800	1,950
1972	9,000	2,250
1973	10,800	2,700
1974	13,200	3,300
1975	14,100	3,525
1976	15,300	3,825
1977	16,500	4,125
1978	17,700	4,425

Year	Old-law contribution & benefit base	Amount of earnings
1979	$18,900	$4,725
1980	20,400	5,100
1981	22,200	5,550
1982	24,300	6,075
1983	26,700	6,675
1984	28,200	7,050
1985	29,700	7,425
1986	31,500	7,875
1987	32,700	8,175
1988	33,600	8,400
1989	35,700	8,925
1990	38,100	9,525


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